US4011370A - Methods and apparatus for closing the bottom ends of electrode tubes - Google Patents

Methods and apparatus for closing the bottom ends of electrode tubes Download PDF

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Publication number
US4011370A
US4011370A US05/692,119 US69211976A US4011370A US 4011370 A US4011370 A US 4011370A US 69211976 A US69211976 A US 69211976A US 4011370 A US4011370 A US 4011370A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
sheaths
base
movable
bottom ends
strip
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US05/692,119
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English (en)
Inventor
Gunnar Eckerbom
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Tudor AB
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Tudor AB
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tudor AB filed Critical Tudor AB
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Publication of US4011370A publication Critical patent/US4011370A/en
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M4/00—Electrodes
    • H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
    • H01M4/64—Carriers or collectors
    • H01M4/70—Carriers or collectors characterised by shape or form
    • H01M4/76—Containers for holding the active material, e.g. tubes, capsules
    • H01M4/765—Tubular type or pencil type electrodes; tubular or multitubular sheaths or covers of insulating material for said tubular-type electrodes
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49002—Electrical device making
    • Y10T29/49108—Electric battery cell making

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns bottom strips for tubular electrodes, for electric storage batteries.
  • the invention likewise relates to electrodes provided with such bottom strips, and a process for manufacture of bottom strips and electrodes.
  • Tubular electrodes are used for various kinds of electric storage batteries, such as lead storage batteries and various alkaline batteries, for example.
  • Each electrode comprises a plurality of rods with an outer tubular sheath of inert material that is permeable to the electrolyte.
  • electrochemically active electrode material within the sheath there is disposed electrochemically active electrode material, as well as one or more electric conductors, so-called cross bars.
  • the cross bars are, as a rule, joined at the upper edge of the electrode with an electrically conductive strip, the so-called top frame.
  • the tubular sheath is closed by a so-called bottom strip.
  • Manufacture of lead storage batteries proceeds in such a way that the cross pieces and the top frame are cast in one piece.
  • the tubular sheath is then drawn over the cross bars, whereafter the electrode shell thereby produced is placed with the top frame downward and the tubular sheath is filled with active material.
  • the sheath is closed thereafter with a bottom strip, generally made of a suitable plastic material.
  • the bottom strip can be fastened to the tubular sheaths, e.g., by being furnished with spurs that project into the tubes and are firmly pressed into them.
  • the spurs may have recesses for the cross bars and thereby serve to center them.
  • the bottom strip may also be glued or welded on.
  • the bottom strip may be of solid or porous material.
  • the tubular sheaths can be made either as single tubes or cohesive so-called multiple tubes.
  • the fitting of the bottom strip may entail problems. There may be difficulty, particularly in the manufacture of lead storage battery electrodes, because the cross bars are made of relatively soft material. If the cross bars are intended to fit into a recess in the bottom strip spurs, but have become poorly centered in the course of filling, they can be bent by the bottom strip, as the latter is installed and forced out toward the side of the tube. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to check on the centering of the cross bars before the bottom strip is set on.
  • a bottom strip according to the invention comprises at least two parts.
  • a first part or base is fixed in the tube ends and joins the individual tubes.
  • One or more second parts are movably joined with the base. They are of such configuration that they can cover the base like a lock.
  • the base is common to all the tubular sheaths of an electrode, with the two movable sections disposed on each other alongside the base.
  • the movable sections are joined with the first part and are of such configuration that together they can cover the openings in the base.
  • the movable sections are identical.
  • the extent of the movable parts in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the electrode should equal or somewhat exceed half the extent of the first part fixed in the tube ends, in the same plane.
  • FIG. 1 shows the lower part of a tubular electrode with four tubes, with a bottom strip according to the invention being in an open position;
  • FIG. 2 shows a cross section through a tube of the same electrode along line 2--2 of FIG. 1, with bottom strip being in the open position;
  • FIG. 3 shows a cross section diametrically through a tube with the bottom strip being in a closed position
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of a modified form of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 the bottom portions of the tubular sheaths 1 are depicted in an inverted position for being filled with electrolyte.
  • the bottom strip which comprises a first part or base 2 and a pair of movable closure sections 3a, 3b.
  • the base 2 is fixed to the ends of the sheaths by conventional coupling techniques.
  • the bottom strips according to the invention can be made as pieces separate from the sheaths and fixed on the tubular sheaths in some previously known way, yet with the difference that the fixation occurs before the sheaths are filled with active material.
  • the base can be provided with holes through which the sheaths extend (FIG. 1). Suitable bonding agent or mechanical fasteners can be employed to connect the base to the sheaths. The fastening of the bottom strips may be effected before or after the tubular sheaths are pulled over the electrode grid.
  • a second preferred method is to form them directly on the tubular sheaths (FIG. 2). This can suitably be done by placing the desired number of sheaths in a transfer mold whereafter the bottom strip is cast, of thermoplastic material. In this way, there is a fixed joint between the bottom strip and the tubular sheaths. Also when individual tubes are used, all tubes that belong to one electrode would be joined with such an arrangement. This is an advantage in subsequent handling of the electrode.
  • the base 2 and the movable closure sections 3a, 3b are preferably integral and include scored edges 4a, 4b which define a hinge axis for the movable sections.
  • movable sections are preferably each one-half or slightly larger than one-half the width of b of the base so that when they are swung about the hinge axes 4a, 4b, they will abut at their free ends 6a, 6b to close the sheaths (FIG. 3). The sections will thus be connected to the base, and fit tightly against one another at 6a, 6b to close all of the sheaths.
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of an electrode with six tubes.
  • This electrode has a variant of the bottom strip according to the invention, which is of such configuration that the bottom strip includes projecting lips 7a and 7b along its short sides. These lips are intended primarily for suspension or other automated handling of the electrode and the electrode sheath. They are superfluous on the finished electrode and may suitably be cut away. The lips may constitute part of either the base 2 or movable sections 3 of the bottom strip, or they may be part of both.
  • the active material that is to be charged into the tubular sheaths is generally pulverous. It is poured into the sheaths, whereafter the electrodes are vibrated to compact the active material. As a general rule, the electrodes are fixed one by one in fixtures for this purpose. For various reasons, it is desirable to have as little of the active material as possible spilled outside of the electrode. The charging devices and fixtures are therefore usually designed with this in mind.
  • the present invention is very advantageous in this regard. That is, the bottom strip can be set on the tubular sheaths before the latter are charged with active material, and the sections 3a, 3b of the bottom strip can be placed in a position where they point out obliquely upward from the electrodes (FIG. 2).
  • dimension a is practically double that of dimension b (FIG. 2).
  • the closing strip can serve as a funnel to substantially increase the rate-of-feed capacity of the charging device.
  • the bottom strip of the invention provides a construction that readily allows automation of the closing of the tubular electrodes. This is an essential advantage, in aspects of both industrial hygiene and economy.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Battery Electrode And Active Subsutance (AREA)
US05/692,119 1975-02-06 1976-06-02 Methods and apparatus for closing the bottom ends of electrode tubes Expired - Lifetime US4011370A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SW7506254 1975-02-06
SE7506254A SE403217B (sv) 1975-06-02 1975-06-02 Nedre tverforbindning for rorelektroder till elektriska ackumulatorer

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4011370A true US4011370A (en) 1977-03-08

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US05/692,119 Expired - Lifetime US4011370A (en) 1975-02-06 1976-06-02 Methods and apparatus for closing the bottom ends of electrode tubes

Country Status (3)

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US (1) US4011370A (sv)
DE (1) DE2624596A1 (sv)
SE (1) SE403217B (sv)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4252872A (en) * 1980-02-14 1981-02-24 Esb Incorporated Granulated lead oxides with teflon
US4303746A (en) * 1980-04-14 1981-12-01 Koehler Manufacturing Company Storage battery construction including bonded plate assembly and methods of making same
US4359509A (en) * 1981-02-27 1982-11-16 Koehler Manufacturing Company Tubular positive electrode means for use in lead-acid storage batteries including shaped grid structure and self-registering grid complement means therefor
US6474535B1 (en) * 1998-11-20 2002-11-05 Nycomed Imaging As Welding method and apparatus

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2015636A (en) * 1932-08-27 1935-09-24 Electric Storage Battery Co Storage battery plate
US2026193A (en) * 1932-04-29 1935-12-31 Electric Storage Battery Co Storage battery plate

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2026193A (en) * 1932-04-29 1935-12-31 Electric Storage Battery Co Storage battery plate
US2015636A (en) * 1932-08-27 1935-09-24 Electric Storage Battery Co Storage battery plate

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4252872A (en) * 1980-02-14 1981-02-24 Esb Incorporated Granulated lead oxides with teflon
US4303746A (en) * 1980-04-14 1981-12-01 Koehler Manufacturing Company Storage battery construction including bonded plate assembly and methods of making same
US4359509A (en) * 1981-02-27 1982-11-16 Koehler Manufacturing Company Tubular positive electrode means for use in lead-acid storage batteries including shaped grid structure and self-registering grid complement means therefor
US6474535B1 (en) * 1998-11-20 2002-11-05 Nycomed Imaging As Welding method and apparatus
US20030150900A1 (en) * 1998-11-20 2003-08-14 Charles Shanks Welding method and apparatus
US6926189B2 (en) 1998-11-20 2005-08-09 Amersham Health As Welding method and apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2624596A1 (de) 1976-12-23
SE7506254L (sv) 1976-12-03
SE403217B (sv) 1978-07-31

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